Security firm wants to speak to Muslim women stopped from praying in Dublin park
A Dublin-based security firm has said it is eager to speak with two Muslim women who were allegedly told to stop praying in a city park.
A worker at Manguard Plus has been suspended while the company carries out a full investigation.
Almost two weeks ago, the two women were answering a call to prayer at Griffth Park in Drumcondra.
They must answer this call five times a day as part of their beliefs.
They said a security man pulled up in a van and started shouting at them to stop, claiming they could hurt their backs and sue Dublin City Council, which pays Manguard Plus to look after its parks out of hours.
Catherine Shanahan from the Irish Examiner spoke to one of the women, who told her they were very upset by the incident.
Ms Shanahan said that the two women had prayed in airports, on the beach, in shopping centres and that they had never once been told that they could not pray in those places.
The two women said that they "felt threatened and embarrassed".
The worker has since been suspended pending a full investigation at the company.
Bill Brown, Managing Director of Manguard Plus, said it was “out of character” for the worker involved and that he was now eager to speak to the women.
Dublin City Council has said it has not been contacted by either party.
